First in a series

DR. Renato Dantes, one of the country’s top lung specialists, died with his boots on. “If it’s any consolation to me and our children,” his wife Dr. Mayette told friends during the wake, “he died in the line of duty.”

Tato, as friends and family fondly call him, was always known by friends and colleagues for his selfless commitment in his various advocacies. Although Tato was a good leader and was able to motivate many colleagues in the advocacies he supported, he patiently did many things on his own without much fanfare. All pro bono. Out of his sincere desire to help. And make a difference in people who would never be able to pay him back for his kindness.

Respiratory health woes

As a past president of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians and a prime mover of the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (Philcat), he was instrumental in forging tighter and more effective collaboration between the private and public sectors to curb what they called the major pulmonary “Pinoy Big Burdens.” In one of their joint conventions, they jubilantly declared the gains they have achieved against tuberculosis, pneumonia, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, which are the country’s four major respiratory health problems.

“With the significant strides being undertaken by both the private and public sectors together, we will hurdle the challenges with these Pinoy big burdens,” Tato told the audience in his opening speech during the PCCP-Philcat joint convention.

For several weeks before his death, he had several out-of-town sorties, including mosquito-infested areas, to conduct their projects for Philcat. Mayette would always remind him to use mosquito repellants and take other precautions, but he was apparently overwhelmed with the scope of his mission in these poor areas, and the little time he and his team had to accomplish it. No time left to take whatever precautions he needed to protect himself.